Video Analysis: Slot Miscalculated – The Tactical Gamble That Backfired at Palace | OneFootball

Slot’s Tactical Analysis: Crystal Palace End Liverpool’s Streak

Liverpool’s unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt at Selhurst Park, and in truth, it felt like a result that had been building. Crystal Palace extended their own formidable sequence to 18 games without defeat under Oliver Glasner, and they did so by exposing tactical flaws that Arne Slot will be forced to address.

Slot’s Selection Decisions Under Scrutiny

When the teams were announced, there was little reason to raise concern. Alisson anchored the side, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté formed the centre-back pairing, and Conor Bradley with Milos Kirkez were selected as full-backs. In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch operated alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, while the attacking line featured Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.

On paper, it was balanced. Yet the reality was different. Wirtz was positioned nominally on the left, but he neither stayed wide nor dominated the half-spaces where he is usually most dangerous. That subtle but significant adjustment had major consequences. It left Liverpool’s left flank undermanned, forcing Kirkez to shoulder the responsibility almost alone. Against a Palace team this well-organised, that was always going to be problematic.

Crystal Palace Exploit Structural Gaps

Glasner has instilled remarkable defensive discipline in Palace. They operate with five at the back, pressing high through aggressive wing-backs. Time and again, Alvaro Muñoz stepped up to smother Liverpool’s left-sided progression, and though Slot attempted to use this to his advantage by spreading the back line and involving Alisson in build-up, Palace’s timing and intensity proved too much.

The right side became Liverpool’s only meaningful outlet, with Salah receiving attention from three Palace players at almost every turn. Without a credible threat on the opposite flank, Palace compressed space with ease. Marc Guéhi and Tyrick Mitchell in particular were outstanding, snuffing out Liverpool’s usual patterns of play.

Tactical Adjustments Bring Temporary Relief

Slot recognised the imbalance and acted after the interval. Cody Gakpo replaced Bradley, Szoboszlai dropped into right-back, and suddenly Liverpool had another presence on the left. The shift was immediate: possession was distributed more evenly, and Gakpo’s willingness to engage Palace defenders created space.

That change eventually led to an equaliser. Chiesa’s introduction added further threat, crosses began to arrive from the left, and Liverpool finally stretched their opponents. Yet while the response was encouraging, it was not sufficient to overturn Palace’s advantage.

Palace Demonstrate Their Growing Authority

It would be wrong to reduce this to Liverpool’s mistakes alone. Palace were excellent across the pitch, showing maturity in game management and resilience in key moments. Were it not for Alisson’s reflexes, the contest might have been settled long before the break. In the end, Palace secured victory with a late goal that Liverpool’s poor defending did little to prevent.

For Slot, this represents the first significant setback of his Liverpool tenure. The defeat will serve as a reminder that even during promising runs, structural issues can be ruthlessly punished in the Premier League. For Palace, it reinforced their credentials as genuine contenders for European places. Eighteen games unbeaten is no accident.